THEATRE HISTORYChinese and Hindu Theatre

THE BEGINNINGS OF CHINESE THEATRE The beginnings:

2000 BC Used interpretive dance Dances told a story Reverence for ancestors Only the people of the Emperor's court saw the

dramas

Religion, philosophy had large influence on Chinese theater:

ConfucianismStresses responsibility of individual to others

TaoismStresses simplicity, patience and nature’s harmony

ShamanismRituals combined costumes, song, dance and gesture

CHINESE DRAMA:8TH- 9TH CENTURY AD Emperor Ming Huang

founded a school for actors called the Children of the Pear Tree Garden considered the patron saint of theatre in China to

this dayStyle: highly formalized themes- ancestor worship, military glory,

faithfulness to husband

END OF MING HAUNG’S DRAMA Mongol invasion 1280 AD

they wanted: (like later Romans) action stunts acrobatics songs dances THE CHALK CIRCLE :Lawsuit-and-trial genre Bertolt Brecht saw a version and wrote The Caucasian Chalk Circle

THE LUTE SONG (plays from that time):Mixture of high art and popular theatrical traditions

Compared to Elizabethan England and 5th century Greece

When the Communists took over in 1949 it ended this drama- used theatre for government policy

THE PEKING OPERAWesterners considered the Chinese theatre opera because of the singing

it had a very symbolic qualitymost acting was done by men

STYLE OF PEKING OPERAUsed highly stylized poses and movements

Very gracefulEvery gesture meant somethinga sleeve over the eyes= weeping

shoulders shaking= grief

PROPS AND COSTUMES• Props were also symbolic

white paper falling= snow an actor with a flag= army flag with wavy lines- river colors= emotions

red= faithfulness blue= cruelty white= evilUsed thick makeup and dazzling

costumes

Theatre of Indian

CHARACTERISTICS OF SANSKRIT DRAMA They use stories drawn from the great

Indian epics The Mahabharata The Ramayana

The stages were elaborately decoratedno representational scenery was used

Movements of every part of the body, vocal delivery, and song followed strict codes

HINDU THEATRE Ancient- dates back to 1500 BC A religious form real theatre emerged around 5th Century BC Sanskrit- language the educated used Performed in courtyards and gardens of

rulers Actors waited in a “greenroom” before going

on stage * we use this term today in drama

Sanskrit Drama:• Written in Sanskrit, the

language of the noble classes

• performed in court circles

• The Natyasastra as example of Indian theatre• Set and scenery• Costumes• Dance and movement

HINDU THEATRE Scenery was a decorated wall small audiences close to stage delicate restrained acting styles plays always ended happily women were on stage- ( this may have been

the first place to allow women)

Next week: Medieval Theatre